2.  Here is what you can expect for a wedding officiant service planned 3 months to a year or longer from today:

• If you are seeking a Wedding Officiant for a ceremony and/or rehearsal, you may email a Wedding Officiant Request to:  detailedweddingsandevents@gmail.com to inquire if the officiant will be available for your ceremony date. 

• After contact is made via phone or email, ​the officiant will begin services once a contract is signed and a 50% non-refundable retainer fee is paid.  The remaining balance must be paid no later than two weeks before the ceremony  The fee is $53.50 to officiate a ceremony, and the cost for the officiant to officiate a ceremony and attend a rehearsal is $160.50.  The tax is included.

• If the couple request to read and approve a draft of their customized love story (if applicable) before the ceremony day, the couple will meet with the officiant four times before their ceremony.  If the couple wants the customized love story to be a wedding day surprise, they will meet with the officiant three times, before the ceremony.  The officiant will provide an initial consultation via phone to obtain pertinent information necessary for the development of their selected ceremony vows style listed below at #4.  

• The officiant will provide unlimited draft revisions as needed.

• The officiant will assist with finalizing the order of ceremony, to include adding any ceremony readings, special music, unity ceremony,  remembrances, cultural tradition or other details, to create a wedding ceremony program that you can hand-off to your wedding coordinator or printing service via email.

• A courtesy email or text will be sent to confirm the arrival of the Wedding Officiant on the ceremony day to the Wedding Coordinator or designated person.

• The officiant will return the signed marriage license to the probate court before the 15th day after the ceremony date to Sumter County Probate Court, if applicable.

• A courtesy email or text will be sent to inform the couple when the signed marriage license was returned to the probate court, if applicable.

• A photo of the couple will be uploaded to this page.

• The newlyweds will receive a QR Code to provide a Google review.​

 

3.  Here is what you can expect for a wedding officiant service planned less than 3 months from today:

• If you are seeking a Wedding Officiant for a ceremony only, you can email a Wedding Officiant Request to:  detailedweddingsandevents@gmail.com no later than three business days prior to the ceremony date to inquire if the officiant will be available for your planned ceremony date. 

• The officiant will correspond with the couple via email and by phone.  

• The officiant will provide the couple's choice of ceremony vows style listed below at #4 on the ceremony day.

• A courtesy email or text will be sent to confirm the arrival of the Wedding Officiant on the ceremony day.

• The officiant will perform the ceremony, after the couple's driver's license, military ID or state ID is viewed by the officiant to match identifications cards with the names on the marriage license.

• An event-day team member will arrive with the officiant to obtain cell phone pictures of the ceremony only, and the free pictures will be sent via email or text.   

• Payment of $53.50 is required on the day of the ceremony.

• The officiant will return the sign marriage license to the probate court before the 15th day after the ceremony date to Sumter County Probate Court, if applicable.

• A courtesy email or text will be sent to inform the couple when the signed marriage license was returned to the probate court, if applicable.

• A "Just Married" photo of the couple will be uploaded to this page.

• The newlyweds will receive a QR Code to provide a Google review. 

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4.  Ceremony Vows Style Options

Please select from the list below, the ceremony vows type that is your preference for your wedding day. The officiant will need a minimum of 72 hours (three days) or longer, to prepare your selected type of ceremony vows script.  All ceremonies will include the Declaration of Consent and Pronouncement or the Statement of Intentions and Pronouncement to be legally binding.  If desired, the couple may include personal vows to their requested ceremony type.  

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• Baptist Traditional Ceremony - contains the question:  who gives this woman to be married to this man?

• Blended Family Ceremony - includes names & participation of bride & groom's children

• Blended Family Ceremony  - includes your love story, children & Sand Blending Unity Ceremony, but is not included for an elopement ceremony

• Catholic Inspired Modern Ceremony 

• Catholic Traditional Ceremony 

• Christian Ceremony (Basic)

• Christian Ceremony - includes marriage prayer and recognition of children

• Christian Ceremony - includes the Cord of Three Strands Unity Ceremony

• Christmas Theme Ceremony - with Unity Candle 

• Custom Personalized Ceremony - includes details of your relationship in order to tell your love story, bit is not included for an elopement ceremony

• Episcopal Ceremony - includes the Lord's Prayer

• Hourglass Ceremony - this is a fun twist on the traditional Unity Sand Ceremony

• Intercultural Ceremony

  • Muslim & Jewish​

• Interfaith Ceremony

  • Jewish & Christian​ Marriage

  • Muslim & Christian Marriage

  • Other Interfaith Ceremonies Are Available

• Jumping the Broom Ceremony - can include your Personal Vows & it contains the  "I Do"  & "Repeat After Me" Vows,

• Lighthearted Ceremony - with a Funny Reading on Marriage

• Marriage License Signing Ceremony - is when the couple signs their Marriage License at the altar

• Modern Filipino Ceremony - with Unity, Veil, Cord & Coins

• Moment of Remembrance Ceremony - remembers a deceased relative during the ceremony

• Non-religious Ceremony 

• Princess Bride Ceremony -  based upon the marriage between Prince Humperdinck and Buttercup

• Romantic Ceremony - includes details of your relationship in order to tell your love story, but is not included for an elopement ceremony

• Sequel Ceremony - this is a larger second ceremony occurring after a small first ceremony

• Short Ceremony - includes a script to marry the couple in 2 minutes or less

• Shotgun Ceremony - unique, funny and lighthearted and for couples who are pregnant on their wedding day

• Simple Ceremony - with or without a Tree Planting Unity Ceremony

• Simple & Silent Rings Exchange Ceremony - includes the standard "I Do" Vows & a Silent Rings Exchange

• Simple Ceremony - includes the standard "I Do Vows" & with this ring, I marry you phrases during rings exchange

• Simple Chinese Ceremony - guests will receive a printout of the ceremony in Chinese & English to follow along in their preferred language

• Surprise Ceremony

• Vows Renewal Ceremony Custom-

• Vows Renewal Ceremony - does not include recognition of the children

• Vows Renewal Ceremony - includes recognition of the children

 

5.  Fees

• A non-refundable 50% retainer is required to activate a contract for ceremonies planned for three months or longer.  The remaining balance must be paid two weeks prior to the ceremony date.  For ceremonies planned for 2 months or less, the full payment is required on the day of the ceremony.

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• The total cost to perform a wedding ceremony or vows renewal ceremony is $53.50 with tax.  The cost for the officiant to attend a one-hour rehearsal before the wedding ceremony and to officiate on the day of the ceremony is $160.50 with tax. ​

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• Any wedding ceremony that starts 30 minutes late or more after the ceremony's planned start time, will incur a "late-start" fee of  $53.50 and it is payable before the officiant signs the marriage license.  Also, couples can also expect to pay an additional “convenience fee” of $53.50 if they book a wedding on any of the following holidays: 

• New Year’s Eve

• New Year’s Day

• Easter

• Memorial Day

• July 4th

• Labor Day

• Thanksgiving Day

• Christmas Eve

• Christmas Day

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6.  Premarital Counseling Course

For couple's desiring a six-hour SC Premarital Course together, that is taught online with a Relationship Expert (Psychologist) and a Minister, at a cost of $24, you can enroll in the SC Premarital Preparation Online Video Course.  The course must be completed within one year of purchasing a marriage license.  As of May 25, 2022, a couple can submit a copy of their Premarital Course Certificate and the SC Department of Revenue Premarital Preparation Course Tax Credit Form (TC32) to determine if they can claim a tax credit in the amount of $25 for each individual or $50 jointly.  Read about it here:  SC Newlywed Tax Tip   For the SC Premarital Preparation Online Video Course, click the course link here:  Course Link

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7.  Per Diem Rates Apply if the Event Is More Than 50 Miles Away From Sumter
If a planner, coordinator, designer, florist or officiant must reside overnight because the travel distance is greater than 50 miles, which is approximately a one-hour drive one-way, the client must pay the per diem as follows:

• Meals (covers breakfast, lunch, dinner and any incidentals)

• Lodging (covers the cost of the hotel or other accommodation) and

• Incidentals (covers small miscellaneous expenses like tips, transportation to and from the airport, parking fees or other minor costs).

 
To determine the per diem rate, find the distance from Sumter to the city of your venue using Google.  If the distance is 50 miles or more, use the GSA Per Diem Rates Link below to search, by using the venue's state, city or zipcode to view the Per Diem Rates listed, in order to determine the cost for the lodging, meals and incidentals.  

GSA Per Diem Rates Link

IRS Announces 2023-2024 Per Diem Rates For Taxpayers Who Travel For Business (forbes.com) 

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8.  SC Marriage License Information

When purchasing your marriage license, be sure to inquire with someone at the probate court, in case a policy change occurred and you didn't hear about it.  You can ask:  does a marriage license expire any time before your ceremony date?  However, the information at the SC Marriage License Information Link states that a SC marriage license does not expire, but it is a good policy to ask and be certain if you are having any doubt.  Also noteworthy, is that witnesses are not required for SC wedding ceremonies, nor is a blood test required of the couple. For more info, read the following link:   SC Marriage License Information Link  

 

For Sumter County marriages, you can purchase additional certified copier machine copies of your marriage license after it has been returned to the probate court by the officiant before the 15th day after your ceremony.  The cost is $5 per certified copy, as of the summer of 2023, and the price may increase without notice.  Nonetheless, certified copies of a marriage license can be printed while you wait.  

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9.  Decorative Ceremonial Marriage Certificates & Renewal of Vows Certificates Are Available

Decorative ceremonial marriage certificates are not available at the Sumter probate court.  When you pay for your license to marry, the court clerk will give you an envelope with a completed example of a marriage license and three pages of a marriage license.  After your marriage license is signed in the presence of your officiant, the officiant will give you the "bride and groom" copy, and the other two pages will be returned to the probate court by the officiant.  If you want to have a decorative ceremonial certificate, you can purchase it via the officiant and frame it to display in your home or pass it on as a memorable keepsake at a cost of $7, $9 or $11.  Orders take as long as two weeks or earlier.  Shipping methods and charges are as follows: 

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• Shipping via Media Mail (7-14 Business Days) (No Tracking) cost $0.00

• Shipping via First Class Mail (3-5 Business Days + Tracking) cost $5.50

• Shipping via Priority Mail (2-5 Business Days + Tracking) cost $9.50

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All orders have a one-business-day processing time. AMM ship orders Monday through Friday, not including holidays. Delivery times are measured from the day your order ships and movement can be seen via the tracking, but tracking is not seen on the day the order is placed.  For example, if a Priority order is placed on a Friday, it will ship Monday, and is likely to be delivered within 2 to 5 business days.

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If you would like to purchase a decorative ceremonial marriage certificate to display in your home, please review the options below:  All items listed are avaialable for free or expedited shipping.  Tax is not required.  If interested, add the certificate and/or frame cost to the total cost for the ceremony of $53.50.  Prices can be seen below for each certificate or wood frame.  If you want to order a certificate, please inform your officiant.

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